No words....
Friday, June 13, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
OBAMA GETS WITH CHRISTIAN LEADERS: Views and differences aired in private meeting.
Barack Obama discussed Darfur, the Iraq war, gay rights, abortion and other issues Tuesday with Christian leaders, including conservatives who have been criticized for praising the Democratic presidential candidate.
Bishop T.D. Jakes, who heads a Dallas megachurch, said Obama took questions, listened to participants and discussed his "personal journey of faith."
The discussion "went absolutely everywhere," Jakes told The Associated Press, and "just about every Christian stripe was represented in that room."
Jakes, who does not endorse candidates and said he also hopes to meet with Republican presidential candidate John McCain, said some participants clearly have political differences with Obama.
The senator's support for abortion rights and gay rights, among other issues, draws opposition from religious conservatives. Some conservatives have criticized Jakes for praising Obama.
For MORE, go HERE.
Bishop T.D. Jakes, who heads a Dallas megachurch, said Obama took questions, listened to participants and discussed his "personal journey of faith."
The discussion "went absolutely everywhere," Jakes told The Associated Press, and "just about every Christian stripe was represented in that room."
Jakes, who does not endorse candidates and said he also hopes to meet with Republican presidential candidate John McCain, said some participants clearly have political differences with Obama.
The senator's support for abortion rights and gay rights, among other issues, draws opposition from religious conservatives. Some conservatives have criticized Jakes for praising Obama.
For MORE, go HERE.
Gospel Music Spotlight: THE EVOLUTION OF MONIQUE WALKER: Voice behind Love Fellowship Crusade Choir releases first solo project
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With a new sound, Monique Walker is ready to share it with the world with her debut project, “My Genesis.”
The CD is set for release in July, 2008 on Anointed Sounds Recordings.
She shares how trusting and believing in God will heal the broken places and give you a “Crazy Praise.”
Walker has a distinct voice and has been featured on various projects spanning more than two decades and is considered to be amongst the most commanding in the Gospel music industry.
She is best known as one of the leading voices of the Grammy Award winning Love Fellowship Crusade Choir where she ministered such powerful and unforgettable songs as “Let the Glory,” “Try Christ” and the all time favorite “Second Chance,” a tearful testimony to the goodness and unmerited favor of God.
“This project is so important to me because it was used as a tool for the Holy Spirit to remind me of who I am in Christ Jesus. There were times in my life when I felt like everything I thought I knew was being tested…and it was…but one thing I have learned is it’s not until you put your whole trust in God to bring you through those tests that you truly find out who you are and what you are made of,” Monique said.
The first single, “Crazy Praise,” is in heavy rotation on radio stations across the country as well as abroad and is receiving accolades across the board.
“My Genesis,” was produced by Grammy and Stellar Award winning producers Steven Ford, Kevin Bond, Fred Jerkins and Grammy and Stellar Award nominee Cedric Thompson.
For more, visit http://www.moniquewalker.net/.
The CD is set for release in July, 2008 on Anointed Sounds Recordings.
She shares how trusting and believing in God will heal the broken places and give you a “Crazy Praise.”
Walker has a distinct voice and has been featured on various projects spanning more than two decades and is considered to be amongst the most commanding in the Gospel music industry.
She is best known as one of the leading voices of the Grammy Award winning Love Fellowship Crusade Choir where she ministered such powerful and unforgettable songs as “Let the Glory,” “Try Christ” and the all time favorite “Second Chance,” a tearful testimony to the goodness and unmerited favor of God.
“This project is so important to me because it was used as a tool for the Holy Spirit to remind me of who I am in Christ Jesus. There were times in my life when I felt like everything I thought I knew was being tested…and it was…but one thing I have learned is it’s not until you put your whole trust in God to bring you through those tests that you truly find out who you are and what you are made of,” Monique said.
The first single, “Crazy Praise,” is in heavy rotation on radio stations across the country as well as abroad and is receiving accolades across the board.
“My Genesis,” was produced by Grammy and Stellar Award winning producers Steven Ford, Kevin Bond, Fred Jerkins and Grammy and Stellar Award nominee Cedric Thompson.
For more, visit http://www.moniquewalker.net/.
Sound Bytes: King in VH1's 'Rehab'
Millions will be able to watch Rodney King try to kick his substance abuse habit on VH1's second season of "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew." The show follows real-life experiences of celebrity patients undergoing detox and treatment at an L.A. rehab under the supervision of Dr. Drew Pinsky. Joining King will be returnee Jeff Conaway, Sean Stewart (Sons of Hollywood), Amber Smith (model/actress), Nikki McKibbon (American Idol), Steven Adler (Guns N' Roses), Tawny Kitaen (Actress) and Gary Busey, who is 13 years sober from his cocaine addiction. Eight new one-hour episodes are slated to begin in October. Can we just get along??
Music 360: ASHANTI'S BLOODY ALBUM PROMOTION BACKFIRES: Site allowing fans to personalize a fake murder spree removed amid protests.
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*Ashanti's record label Universal Music Group has taken down a controversial Web site amid protests and outrage over its use of a fake killing spree to promote her new album, "The Declaration."
As EUR previously reported, visitors to the website TheWayThatILoveYou.com were able to personalize a news report about the murders and send a "Gotchagram" e-card/video to folks with the target's name listed as the killer's latest victim.
Parents and religious groups protested outside of her record company Tuesday and threatened to disrupt her scheduled performance of the National Anthem at Game 5 of the NBA finals at LA's Staples Center. As a result, Universal shut down the gotcha-grams and removed the Web site altogether.
The drama started several months ago with the video for her single "The Way That I Love You," which depicts Ashanti as a spurned lover appearing to exact revenge on her cheating boyfriend by stabbing him to death. The clip's images of blood-spattered walls were included in the Gotchagram e-card promotion on TheWayThatILoveYou.com.
Visitors to the former site were greeted by a fake news headline from the UCN, the Universal Crime Network, which reported that, "police are investigating a recent wave of violence in New Jersey. The police commissioner has hinted that there may be a tie between the recent attacks and the music video for Universal/Motown recording artist Ashanti's single 'The Way That I Love You.'
A fake news story on the site ended with the warning that police fear the prime suspect in the alleged string of killings, Victoria Jackson, "may be planning to open a big can of whoop-a**. Authorities have already expressed apprehension at the pending release of Ashanti's album, The Declaration, on June 3rd, fearful that the power of the album will lead to more violence. Only time will tell."
Fans accessing the site were immediately greeted by a large, blood-soaked knife, carving out a box at the top of the page. A menu popped up that let users send the Gotchagram to a friend or enemy. After putting in your name, the name of your friend and their "crime," a menu titled "Your Victim's Crime" dropped down with such options as "sleeping around," "suspected sleeping around," "playing you like a fool" and "breaking your heart."
The next drop-down menu, for "Weapon of Choice," featured options such as "boot," "knife," "can," "sledgehammer," "rolling pin" and "guillotine." Once the information was typed in, a customized UCN news report was generated featuring the victim's name splattered in blood on a wall, the weapon of choice, the sender's name in a fake newspaper headline and a reference to their home state. The clip ends with a plug for the album and a cartoonish voice stating: "Ashanti and Universal Music Group do not encourage or condone violence of any kind. This is for parody purposes only."
Najee Ali of Project Islamic Hope joined more than two dozen concerned parents and religious leaders outside of LA's Universal/Motown offices Tuesday in calling for the Web site to be taken down. Former radio veteran and BET staffer Paul Porter of the nonpartisan media justice think tank Industry Ears, said the video came to his attention on Monday, and he immediately called Ali.
"I questioned not only the content of the video, but also why Universal/Motown would support this effort," Porter said. "The real shock is that Ashanti is squeaky-clean ... and the song has nothing to do with murdering someone, so the video is definitely constructed for shock value, and we feel there's enough violence in our inner cities without you picking your weapon of choice."
A statement released Tuesday through Ashanti's personal publicist, Michelle Huff, stressed that "the Web site that Mr. Porter is referring to is not controlled by Ashanti nor is it her creative work. We respect what Mr. Porter is working to accomplish with his organization. But it is important to point out that Ashanti's history of creative expression does not glorify violence at all."
Unsatisfied with the response, Porter released a statement Wednesday announcing plans to disrupt Ashanti's performance of the National Anthem before the Los Angeles Lakers meet the Boston Celtics for Game 5. That's when Universal Motown president Sylvia Rhone responded to Porter with a one-sentence e-mail that read: "The sight is down, I took it down this morning."
The official statement from Universal was sent out a short time afterward: It said: "Following discussions with Ashanti, we have jointly decided to remove the TheWayThatILoveYou.com website that hosts the Gotchagram. Ashanti and her music have always been about self-empowerment and addressing the issues that are most meaningful to her. We stand by our artist and her creative choices."
As EUR previously reported, visitors to the website TheWayThatILoveYou.com were able to personalize a news report about the murders and send a "Gotchagram" e-card/video to folks with the target's name listed as the killer's latest victim.
Parents and religious groups protested outside of her record company Tuesday and threatened to disrupt her scheduled performance of the National Anthem at Game 5 of the NBA finals at LA's Staples Center. As a result, Universal shut down the gotcha-grams and removed the Web site altogether.
The drama started several months ago with the video for her single "The Way That I Love You," which depicts Ashanti as a spurned lover appearing to exact revenge on her cheating boyfriend by stabbing him to death. The clip's images of blood-spattered walls were included in the Gotchagram e-card promotion on TheWayThatILoveYou.com.
Visitors to the former site were greeted by a fake news headline from the UCN, the Universal Crime Network, which reported that, "police are investigating a recent wave of violence in New Jersey. The police commissioner has hinted that there may be a tie between the recent attacks and the music video for Universal/Motown recording artist Ashanti's single 'The Way That I Love You.'
A fake news story on the site ended with the warning that police fear the prime suspect in the alleged string of killings, Victoria Jackson, "may be planning to open a big can of whoop-a**. Authorities have already expressed apprehension at the pending release of Ashanti's album, The Declaration, on June 3rd, fearful that the power of the album will lead to more violence. Only time will tell."
Fans accessing the site were immediately greeted by a large, blood-soaked knife, carving out a box at the top of the page. A menu popped up that let users send the Gotchagram to a friend or enemy. After putting in your name, the name of your friend and their "crime," a menu titled "Your Victim's Crime" dropped down with such options as "sleeping around," "suspected sleeping around," "playing you like a fool" and "breaking your heart."
The next drop-down menu, for "Weapon of Choice," featured options such as "boot," "knife," "can," "sledgehammer," "rolling pin" and "guillotine." Once the information was typed in, a customized UCN news report was generated featuring the victim's name splattered in blood on a wall, the weapon of choice, the sender's name in a fake newspaper headline and a reference to their home state. The clip ends with a plug for the album and a cartoonish voice stating: "Ashanti and Universal Music Group do not encourage or condone violence of any kind. This is for parody purposes only."
Najee Ali of Project Islamic Hope joined more than two dozen concerned parents and religious leaders outside of LA's Universal/Motown offices Tuesday in calling for the Web site to be taken down. Former radio veteran and BET staffer Paul Porter of the nonpartisan media justice think tank Industry Ears, said the video came to his attention on Monday, and he immediately called Ali.
"I questioned not only the content of the video, but also why Universal/Motown would support this effort," Porter said. "The real shock is that Ashanti is squeaky-clean ... and the song has nothing to do with murdering someone, so the video is definitely constructed for shock value, and we feel there's enough violence in our inner cities without you picking your weapon of choice."
A statement released Tuesday through Ashanti's personal publicist, Michelle Huff, stressed that "the Web site that Mr. Porter is referring to is not controlled by Ashanti nor is it her creative work. We respect what Mr. Porter is working to accomplish with his organization. But it is important to point out that Ashanti's history of creative expression does not glorify violence at all."
Unsatisfied with the response, Porter released a statement Wednesday announcing plans to disrupt Ashanti's performance of the National Anthem before the Los Angeles Lakers meet the Boston Celtics for Game 5. That's when Universal Motown president Sylvia Rhone responded to Porter with a one-sentence e-mail that read: "The sight is down, I took it down this morning."
The official statement from Universal was sent out a short time afterward: It said: "Following discussions with Ashanti, we have jointly decided to remove the TheWayThatILoveYou.com website that hosts the Gotchagram. Ashanti and her music have always been about self-empowerment and addressing the issues that are most meaningful to her. We stand by our artist and her creative choices."
Oh No They Didn't! IN NEW POLL OBAMA LEADS MCCAIN: Plus, Fox News calls Michelle 'Obama's Baby Mama'
*In a poll released Wednesday by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News, Barack Obama begins his presidential race against John McCain as the front-runner.
However, the poll says that given the GOP's unpopularity amongst the voting public, Obama's lead is not that large.
"Sen. Obama leads Sen. McCain by 47% to 41%, a spread that is twice the edge he had in the previous poll, in late April. Still, that lead is significantly smaller than the Democratic Party's 16-point advantage, 51% to 35%, when voters are asked, without candidates' names, which party they want to win the White House," the Journal reports of the poll's findings.
The Journal's report went on to say ...
"The record unpopularity of President Bush and the Republican Party, combined with economic worries among voters and a broad desire for change, would normally make this "the single best year for an Obama-type candidacy, and the single worst year for a McCain-type candidacy," says Democratic pollster Peter Hart, who conducts the Journal/NBC poll with Republican Neil Newhouse.
"But Sen. Obama continues to do poorly among white male voters, according to the poll. More ominous is his weakness among white suburban women, who generally are open to Democratic candidates and whose votes could be decisive. While Sen. Obama has a slight lead among white women generally, a plurality of suburbanites prefer Sen. McCain.
"Some good news for the likely Democratic nominee: Despite suggestions during the nomination contest that many Hispanics and Hillary Clinton supporters wouldn't support him, the poll shows both groups overwhelmingly do."
*In other Obama news, the Fox News Channel has done it again. Salon.com is reporting that despite the fact that Michelle Obama is the Democratic presidential nominee's legal wife, and not some jump off with his kids, the channel is calling Michelle Obama, "Obama's Baby Mama." See the titling at the bottom of the screen shot below:
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The verbiage was used yesterday at the bottom of the screen in which Republican mouthpiece Michelle Malkin was interviewed in a segement about conservative attacks against Michelle Obama:
However, the poll says that given the GOP's unpopularity amongst the voting public, Obama's lead is not that large.
"Sen. Obama leads Sen. McCain by 47% to 41%, a spread that is twice the edge he had in the previous poll, in late April. Still, that lead is significantly smaller than the Democratic Party's 16-point advantage, 51% to 35%, when voters are asked, without candidates' names, which party they want to win the White House," the Journal reports of the poll's findings.
The Journal's report went on to say ...
"The record unpopularity of President Bush and the Republican Party, combined with economic worries among voters and a broad desire for change, would normally make this "the single best year for an Obama-type candidacy, and the single worst year for a McCain-type candidacy," says Democratic pollster Peter Hart, who conducts the Journal/NBC poll with Republican Neil Newhouse.
"But Sen. Obama continues to do poorly among white male voters, according to the poll. More ominous is his weakness among white suburban women, who generally are open to Democratic candidates and whose votes could be decisive. While Sen. Obama has a slight lead among white women generally, a plurality of suburbanites prefer Sen. McCain.
"Some good news for the likely Democratic nominee: Despite suggestions during the nomination contest that many Hispanics and Hillary Clinton supporters wouldn't support him, the poll shows both groups overwhelmingly do."
*In other Obama news, the Fox News Channel has done it again. Salon.com is reporting that despite the fact that Michelle Obama is the Democratic presidential nominee's legal wife, and not some jump off with his kids, the channel is calling Michelle Obama, "Obama's Baby Mama." See the titling at the bottom of the screen shot below:
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The verbiage was used yesterday at the bottom of the screen in which Republican mouthpiece Michelle Malkin was interviewed in a segement about conservative attacks against Michelle Obama:
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
OPRAH’S BIG SLIDE
Oprah Winfrey backed presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama some time ago, but some are suggesting that the decision to do so cost her.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the average audience for The Oprah Winfrey Show has fallen nearly seven percent this year.
Additionally, Oprah’s Big Give, a philanthropic reality show created and produced by Oprah on ABC, started out as one of the top television programs when it premiered earlier this year, but lost nearly one-third of its audience forcing ABC not to renew it for a second season.
TIME Magazine, however, suggests a different reason why Oprah’s been sliding. After all, Oprah’s television show has been declining for three years, long before she publicly endorsed Obama.
According to the article:
Oprah is perhaps the closest thing America has to a secular religious figure: “The secret to Oprah the goddess was how deftly she balanced her New Testament and Old Testament sides. The friendly New Testament Oprah was benevolent and beneficient, bestowing gifts to the multitudes; in her case Pontiacs, designer shoes and other Oprah’s Favorite Things rather than loaves and fishes. She loved you unconditionally and boosted your self-esteem. She helped you help yourself. But there was a little Old Testament Oprah too: she passed judgment, advocated causes, told you you needed to get right.”
Despite Oprah’s decline, Mosnar Communications, a luxury public relations and global marketing firm, recently announced that the Oprah Winfrey brand is the most sought after and trusted media influence.
The article states, “The key to bringing her ratings back up may be returning to her show’s theme that people need improvement, but that they, not Oprah, are the final key to their own self-perfection. People love it when you give them Pontiacs. But they still want to do the driving themselves.”
According to Nielsen Media Research, the average audience for The Oprah Winfrey Show has fallen nearly seven percent this year.
Additionally, Oprah’s Big Give, a philanthropic reality show created and produced by Oprah on ABC, started out as one of the top television programs when it premiered earlier this year, but lost nearly one-third of its audience forcing ABC not to renew it for a second season.
TIME Magazine, however, suggests a different reason why Oprah’s been sliding. After all, Oprah’s television show has been declining for three years, long before she publicly endorsed Obama.
According to the article:
Oprah is perhaps the closest thing America has to a secular religious figure: “The secret to Oprah the goddess was how deftly she balanced her New Testament and Old Testament sides. The friendly New Testament Oprah was benevolent and beneficient, bestowing gifts to the multitudes; in her case Pontiacs, designer shoes and other Oprah’s Favorite Things rather than loaves and fishes. She loved you unconditionally and boosted your self-esteem. She helped you help yourself. But there was a little Old Testament Oprah too: she passed judgment, advocated causes, told you you needed to get right.”
Despite Oprah’s decline, Mosnar Communications, a luxury public relations and global marketing firm, recently announced that the Oprah Winfrey brand is the most sought after and trusted media influence.
The article states, “The key to bringing her ratings back up may be returning to her show’s theme that people need improvement, but that they, not Oprah, are the final key to their own self-perfection. People love it when you give them Pontiacs. But they still want to do the driving themselves.”
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